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Florida doctor voices concern for organ transplant ‘rationing’ for Medicaid patients to American Medical Association

Outcry against government making health care decisions

Earlier this week, on Monday June 17, 2013, a Florida delegate to the American Medical Association (AMA) as well as St. Petersburg City Council Candidate, David McKalip M.D., lead the effort to ensure the AMA would stand strongly in favor of organ transplantation for Medicaid patients; and not for rationing such medical treatments because of funds.

“As a doctor, I have long stood against any act of the rationing of medical care by the government.” says McKalip. “I could not stand by while the leadership of my profession at the AMA chose to side with government rationing policies instead of the patient.”

“If the government has promised access to high quality medical care to patients through a government program such as Medicaid, the government should keep their promises.  It is not acceptable to tell a Medicaid patient they may be an organ donor, but not an organ recipient.

The AMA Board of Trustees had previously recommended that they not adopt the policy to the key policy making body of the AMA, the House of Delegates (HOD), requiring McKalip to respond.

The issue: The issue presented itself when Governor Jan Brewer decided that the State of Arizona could not afford to pay for organ transplants for Medicaid patients in 2010. The state ultimately reversed the decision after a large public outcry. The Florida delegation worked to have the AMA stand on the side of Medicaid patients beginning in November of 2011, but no action was taken by the AMA Board until this annual meeting.

The AMA Board of Trustees (BOT) was recommending that the AMA not support expanding Medicaid coverage for organ transplants. In doing so the AMA BOT relied on the New AMA policy “Stewardship of Healthcare Resources” to conclude that Medicaid patients should not receive organ transplants if there were limited resources to fund it.  That 2012 policy states that physicians are “obligated” to be “prudent stewards of shared societal resources,” a policy that was acknowledged to conflict with the need to serve the medical needs of the patient first.

McKalip worked through the process at the AMA House of Delegates to rally unanimous support for his position on behalf of the entire Florida delegation. Others, including Delegations from New York, California, the District of Colombia, joined the call to provide good medical care to patients pointing out that it is duty of the doctors to stand up first for the patient and to let the government determine how it would pay for the costs of the programs it has created. Other colleagues pointed out that the cost of living with organ failure while awaiting an organ transplant or the critical care of dying with organ failure was often more costly than the organ transplant itself.

Thomas Peters, M.D., a transplant surgeon from Jacksonville offered, “It is not appropriate to first do a wallet biopsy of my patient to determine if they are eligible for an organ transplant.”

McKalip concluded, “I am proud of my colleagues at the AMA House of Delegates for standing up for patients and advising their elected leaders on the AMA Board of Trustees that the AMA must stand up for patients, and not participate in rationing. I am humbled by their support on this issue but also happy that I had the opportunity to use my years of experience there and knowledge of health policy to make a difference in the lives of Americans through action at the AMA.”

About Dr. McKalip: David McKalip, M.D. is a Board-Certified Neurological Surgeon of the brain and spine. He has served as the President of the Florida Neurosurgical Society and on the Quality Improvement Committee of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, as well as the board of the Florida Medical Association. His practice is located in St. Petersburg, Florida and he is currently a candidate for St. Petersburg City Council.

McKalip has represented Florida doctors in the AMA HOD since 2005 and has rallied leaders and delegations from several states and specialties to unanimously overturn the recommendation of the AMA Board on denying organ transplant for Medicaid patients.

http://scrubsreport.com/tampa-news-current.html

Should Medicaid Patients Be Denied Organ Transplants?

Neurological surgeon David McKalip M.D., a Florida delegate to the American Medical Association (AMA), this week lead the effort to ensure the AMA would stand strongly in favor of organ transplantation for Medicaid patients; and not for rationing such medical treatments because of funds.

“As a doctor, I have long stood against any act of the rationing of medical care by the government.” says McKalip. “I could not stand by while the leadership of my profession at the AMA chose to side with government rationing policies instead of the patient.”

The AMA Board of Trustees had previously recommended that they not adopt the policy to the key policy making body of the AMA, the House of Delegates (HOD), requiring McKalip to respond.

“If the government has promised access to high quality medical care to patients through a government program such as Medicaid, the government should keep their promises.  It is not acceptable to tell a Medicaid patient they may be an organ donor, but not an organ recipient.”

The issue presented itself when Governor Jan Brewer decided that the State of Arizona could not afford to pay for organ transplants for Medicaid patients in 2010. The state ultimately reversed the decision after a large public outcry. The Florida delegation worked to have the AMA stand on the side of Medicaid patients beginning in November of 2011, but no action was taken by the AMA Board until this annual meeting.

The AMA Board of Trustees (BOT) was recommending that the AMA not support expanding Medicaid coverage for organ transplants. In doing so the AMA BOT relied on the New AMA policy “Stewardship of Healthcare Resources” to conclude that Medicaid patients should not receive organ transplants if there were limited resources to fund it.  That 2012 policy states that physicians are “obligated” to be “prudent stewards of shared societal resources,” a policy that was acknowledged to conflict with the need to serve the medical needs of the patient first.

McKalip worked through the process at the AMA House of Delegates to rally unanimous support for his position on behalf of the entire Florida delegation. Others, including Delegations from New York, California, the District of Colombia, joined the call to provide good medical care to patients pointing out that it is duty of the doctors to stand up first for the patient and to let the government determine how it would pay for the costs of the programs it has created. Other colleagues pointed out that the cost of living with organ failure while awaiting an organ transplant or the critical care of dying with organ failure was often more costly than the organ transplant itself.

Thomas Peters, M.D., a transplant surgeon from Jacksonville offered, “It is not appropriate to first do a wallet biopsy of my patient to determine if they are eligible for an organ transplant.”

McKalip concluded, “I am proud of my colleagues at the AMA House of Delegates for standing up for patients and advising their elected leaders on the AMA Board of Trustees that the AMA must stand up for patients, and not participate in rationing. I am humbled by their support on this issue but also happy that I had the opportunity to use my years of experience there and knowledge of health policy to make a difference in the lives of Americans through action at the AMA.”

http://www.physiciansnews.com/2013/06/21/should-medicaid-patients-be-denied-organ-transplants/

Alternative treatment helps with chronic back pain patients – ABC Action News with Linda Hurtado and Dr. Sara Rizk (Dr. Sara Atalla) of Start to Finish Spine Care

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – For those of us who suffer chronic back pain, we are always looking for new ways to alleviate the pain. There is an alternative treatment, a different type of prescription that doesn’t come in a bottle. Continue reading “Alternative treatment helps with chronic back pain patients – ABC Action News with Linda Hurtado and Dr. Sara Rizk (Dr. Sara Atalla) of Start to Finish Spine Care” »

International Quality of Life Month – One Woman Gets Her Quality of Life Back

From excruciating pain to virtually pain free – one woman shares her voyage in getting the quality of her life back with the help of a local neurosurgeon

(St. Petersburg, Fla.) January 13, 2010 – You’re only 47 years-old. You’re fairly healthy, with no severe medical issues. You’ve never been in an accident or experienced serious injury. Yet, you lay in bed having your meals fed to you because it’s too excruciating to move your body beyond the distance of your bedroom to your restroom. This was Christine Barone’s life. An average 47-year-old, East Lake resident who would have done anything to have the quality of her life back. Continue reading “International Quality of Life Month – One Woman Gets Her Quality of Life Back” »

Ask a Doc Radio Show Nov. 20th Featuring Neurosurgeon, Dr. David McKalip

[audio:11-20-10.mp3]

7 Steps Spine Surgeons Should Take to Prevent Infections – Dr. McKalip speaks with Becker’s Orthopedic & Spine Review

7 Steps Spine Surgeons Should Take to Prevent Infections

Spine surgeons must take all possible measures to decrease infection rates among their patients and produce the best outcomes. Infections can occur for various reasons and when an infection does occur, it takes more time and effort from the patient and the surgeon to resolve, which may or may not be reimbursed. “If you’re not meticulous with sterile technique, you can get in trouble,” says Donald Corenman, MD, of The Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo. “Prevention is absolutely key because dealing with infections is a tremendous amount of work and it really sets the patient back.” Continue reading “7 Steps Spine Surgeons Should Take to Prevent Infections – Dr. McKalip speaks with Becker’s Orthopedic & Spine Review” »

“Hey Doc, Can I Get a Second Opinion?” Dr. David McKalip featured on Merced Sun-Star.com

merced sun-star

Ask a Doc Radio Show Oct. 23rd Featuring Neurosurgeon, Dr. David McKalip –

[audio:10-23-10.mp3]

Shopping Around for A Second Opinion — Posted on WomenSaveMoney.com

screen-shot-2010-07-06-at-83022-am1Saving Money and Your Health: How to Determine What You Need, And Where You Should Go to Get It

(St. Petersburg, Fla.) – For some men, asking for a second opinion on a medical diagnosis is like asking for directions – it just doesn’t happen. But how important is that second opinion? For some medical insurance companies, second opinions are so important – they are required before treatment.

Continue reading “Shopping Around for A Second Opinion — Posted on WomenSaveMoney.com” »

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David McKalip, MD, Diplomate, American Board of Neurological Surgery

maintenance_of_certification_reflections_pdf_dmckalip_neurosurg_0520104“With MOC, we have the tools to stand strong.” 

Dr. McKalip believes maintaining a standard of care is the responsibility of a profession. “The profession of Neurosurgery has taken this obligation seriously and has created and implemented a strenuous Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program,” he explained. “The program assures that certified Neurosurgeons provide state-of-the-art care, are monitored by their peers for deficiencies and are familiar with the latest evidence-based care.”

Continue reading “David McKalip, MD, Diplomate, American Board of Neurological Surgery” »

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